No Strings Attached

Chapter Thirty-Three

***

My eyes shift to the doorway as I hear a soft knock.

"I'm sorry. Your assistant isn't at her desk?"

I gulp deeply when Ed stops at the doorway.

"Um, no. She has the day off. Come in."

He enters with a bouquet of red roses in his hand. I look at them, warily.

Shit.

He must see the discomfort on my features because he shrugs, stopping by my desk. "I figured I maybe deserved them for last night."

"You did nothing wrong. I'd actually like to apologize for Mr. Martinelli, for that whole scene."

"He seemed pretty upset."

"Yes, well..." I glance at the coffee machine. "Um, can I get you a coffee? A glass of water?"

"No, I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I know I said I'd call but I guess I thought seeing you would be better."

I nod, my lips twisting awkwardly as he hands me the flowers.

"Thank you for these."

"Don't mention it. I wasn't sure whether you'd be up for another try at this."

"This?"

"Us."

I laugh slightly. "Would you believe me if I told you I wasn't ready for anything in my life right now?"

He smirks. "Maybe."

"It's not a line. I am not a good candidate for romance."

"At the moment?"

"Ever."

He nods, looking around my office. "I figured you were already seeing someone. Maybe someone you can't say?"

I give him nothing to go on, which makes him smile softly.

"I don't intend to pry at all, honestly. I'm pretty good at putting two-and-two together."

"I'm not seeing anyone right now, Ed."

Well, it's not a lie.

He nods, breathing in. "Well, I'd like to be friends. Anyone that can take drink like that and still walk upright is pretty cool in my book."

My eyes shift to the roses in my hand, uncomfortably. "We can be friends, sure."

"Yeah?"

I nod, shrugging. "I'm not really good at it, though."

"What? Being friends?"

"Being a friend."

He smiles. "I'm easy to like."

I chuckle, sighing. God, I don't know what to say to that. "Alright, well..."

He begins to turn, noticing me shuffling. "We'll talk?"

"Sure."

He waves slightly, exiting the way he came. I set down the roses the minute he's gone, dropping down into my seat. I'm pulled from my reveling when the phone rings.

I pick it up, a dark part of me hoping it's the voice of the man I sent away. "Hello?"

"I just personally invited Connor Maynard to the Black Tie Event. He accepted. I think we may have a new shareholder, Scarlett," Norman says excitedly.

I raise my brows, rubbing my mouth.

"Another shareholder? You sure you want to put the company into other people's hands?"